32yo problem breathing

[Mike0916]

I am a 32 yo white male. I have never had allergies or asthma before, but on 4/17/08 I was on a mini vacation and all day long I had a problem breathing. I thought it was an anxiety attack but it has lasted to this day, 5/5/08. I saw several ER doctors thinking it was my heart, but they say my EKGs are fine. I had a CT scan last May and it was good. I am seeing my pulmonologist and he has me on Singulair and Symbicort. I dont think it is working 100%, I still have bad days. I get pain in my back muscles sometimes. I have a cough with clear or white phlegm that developed about a week ago. I get pain in the middle of my chest, but it is not constant, it comes and goes infrequently. When I try to breathe in - I only feel I am getting so far and it feels like my upper chest is heavy. i moved from Philadelphia to Washington DC and this is my first spring in DC ... could this be a reaction to the pollution/allergies here that are different from Philly? Will it end? Is it fatal? This is making me a little stressed. Thanks for your assistance.

[Sunny602]

Sure sounds like it could be allergies/asthma problems. I had horrible allergy and asthma  issues years back, it did not seem like anything worked. But, after time and switching of meds, my asthma is under control. I still have flare ups, but they are easily tamed. Of course, everyone is different. You should be checked for allergies, seeing an allergist wouldn't be a bad idea. Your doc could also run other tests on you to check your lung functions (along with a methacholine challenge) to see if asthma is an issue.
The thing with allergies, is that most times it is seasonal...mine are worse in the early spring as well as late fall. It depends on what you are allergic too.
I hope that this helps...Sunny

[Mightymomteacher]

Mike, I am a 37 yr old female who also has never had servere allergy or any type of asthma problems.  I know what you mean by stressed.  I've been on four strong antibiotics and am still coughing, wheezing, and rattling with muscle soreness and fatigue.  I have a friend with similar symptoms and circumstances who is about our age.  I'm also doing updrafts of Xopinex and have an Advair diskus.  Can allergies really make you feel this bad?

[micelf]

Mike:  I was on Singulair for a few weeks and now I am fighting some sort of upper respitory thing.  I do not think it is just from the Singulair, because I got it after a long flight.  I believe I contracted the flu virus and then it turned into bronchitis or something.  But Singulair did seem to make mine worst.  I am now off of it.  One of Singulair side effects is upper respitory issues or something to that affect.  Do your research on that.  I have also went through a round of antibiotic and  I am using an inhalor (Albuterol).  The inhaler is helping alot.  I think whatever it is, it may have to run it's course.  Hot steamy showers seem to help.  I think too many antibiotics is going to reduce your own immune system.  I am taking Centrum vitamins right now also.  I think I'm keeping it at bay, but it's not gone.  Not a doctor.